AN INTRODUCT ION TO THE STUDY

OF

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ORCHIDS 'AhM\

R . S . R O G E R S , M . A . , M . D . ( E D I N . )

SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED.

A L L R I G H T S R E S E R V E D .

J gkiielaiirc:

I t . E . E . E o g e v . s , G o v e r n m e n t P r i n t e r , N o r t h T & h ' h o k .

i g n .

T A B L E OF CONTENTS.

II.

i n .

I V .

j v a. ' •

V I .

V I I .

V I I I .

I X .

P R E F A C E

PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS

T H E F A M I L Y PTEROSTYLIS (GREENHOODS)

FERTILIZATION OF THE GREENHOODS . .

F O U R SMALL FAMILIES

E P I P H Y T E S AND OTHER THINGS

CONCLUDING REMARKS. COLLECTING AND PRESERVING

SPECIMENS

7

12

21

28

31

39

41

53

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

G L O S S A R Y . . . .

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ORCHIDS INDIGENOUS TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5 5

I N D E X 60

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PLATES.

1 Thelymitra grandiflora (coloured) 2 Caladenia dilatata (coloured)

3 Robert Brown 4 Ralph Tate 5 Robert Desmond Fitzgerald

FIGURES.

1 Caladenia Cairnsiana 2 Pterostylis reflexa 3 Thelymitra pauciflora 4 Prasophyllum nigricans 5 Eriochilus autumnalis 6 Column and tongue of a Greenhood 7 Pterostylis vittata 8 Pterostylis nana 9 Pterostylis longifolia

10 Pterostylis nutans 11 Pterostylis mutica 12 Pterostylis curta 13 Pterostylis cucullata 14 Acianthus exsertus 15 Cyrtostylis reniformis 16 Corysanthes pruinosa (side view) . . 17 Corysanthes pruinosa (front view) 18 Crvptostylis longifolia 19 Dipodium punctatum 20 Orthoceras strictum 21 Calochilus Robertsoni 22 Caleana major 23 Spiranthes Australis 24 Microtis orbicularis

.25 Caladenia deformis 26 Diuris palachila 27 Lyperanthus nigricans 28 Glossodia major 29 Thelymitra antennifera 30 Leptoceras fimbriata 31 Caladenia Patersoni 32 Thelymitra Macmillani 33 Thelymitra epipactoides 34 Thelymitra venosa 35 Prasophyllum A list rale

Frontispiece. Facing page 42

PAGE.

40 48 51

8 9

10 11 12 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

21

22 23 24 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

T H E L Y M I T R A G R A N D 1 F L 0 R A

O n e of our tallest and most beautiful Orchids.

A b o u t half natural size.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

THIS little book first appeared in the pages of The Children's

Hour (a South Australian publication) in the form ot three

illustrated articles, written for that magazine about two years

ago.

These articles were afterwards issued in booklet form for

private distribution among teachers and others interested in

this particular branch of Nature Study. The favourable recep-

tion accorded this small effort has led to a request from the

Educat ion Department for a new edition.

In this an attempt has been made to retain the simplicity

of style which characterized the first i s s u e - a feature which

rendered it suitable for the ordinary school child or other

person not possessed of any botanical knowledge. A t the

same t ime its scope has been extended by the addition of a

Glossary of Botanical Terms and a Bibliography of our

Orchidaceous Plants, which will enable the more advanced

student to pursue the study of this extremely fascinating

Order. , .

T h e family Pterostylis .(" Greenhoods") has been selected as

the type, and the various members of this have been treated

with some sl ight regard to detail. In other respects no attempt

at systemization has been made, and the author has relied

almost entirely upon the pictures to tell their own story.

T h e illustrations have been very considerably increased in

number, and two of them now appear in colours. In cases

where the illustrations in the first edition were considered

unsatisfactory they have been replaced by fresh ones, lhese

i l lustrat ions (with except ion of the th ree por t ra i t s ) a re all original, and are the resul t of much cheerful labour , t ravel , t ime, and expense. T h e blocks were p r e p a r e d e i ther f rom pho tographs of the actual p l an t s or f rom very beaut i fu l pa in t -ings executed by Miss R o s a F iveash f rom t h e fresh p l a n t s under the au thor ' s supervision.

Ano the r new feature in th is edit ion is the in t roduc t ion of b iographical sketches and por t ra i t s of th ree men eminen t ly identified with botanical research work in th is and o t h e r Sta tes , viz., the most famous of all botanis ts , R o b e r t B r o w n ; the late Professor Ra lph T a t e ; and t h e la te R . D. F i t zge ra ld , author of a monumen ta l work on Aus t r a l i an Orchids . T h e portrai t of Brown will, it is believed, be new to t h e g rea t major i ty of Commonweal th readers .

Final ly , the shape of the book h a s been a l tered so t h a t it may be convenient ly carried in the pocket .

I t is most earnes t ly hoped tha t the a t t e m p t on the pa r t of the author to popular ize the s tudy of our N a t i v e O r c h i d s will not lead to the destruct ion of these in t e re s t ing p l a n t s , but ra ther to the i r protect ion and preserva t ion H e has been grea t ly impressed by the ruthless m a n n e r in which t h e more showy forms are ga the red by chi ldren and o the r s in our Nat ional Pa rk and elsewhere. Unless th is w a n t o n des t ruc t ion is checked, u l t imate ex te rmina t ion of our most beaut i fu l spec ies mus t result. H e believes t ha t a more in t ima te k n o w l e d g e of the habi t s of these p lan t s will engende r a f r iendly interes t in their welfare which will do much to sa fegua rd them from t h e vandal . It is u rged t ha t all r eaders of this l i t t le book should use their u tmost endeavour to protect our Orchids b y ins t ruc-t i n g o thers with less knowledge t han themse lves never to collect

a single specimen not required for study, and to regard the tuber

as sacred.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY

or

S O U T H A U S T R A L I A N O R C H I D S .

I. PRELIMINARY CON-

SIDERATIONS.

AM constantly asked,

" What is an orchid ?

How am I to know

an orchid when I see

one ? " This is a question to which

I do not find a ready answer to give

to those who have never studied

botany. Frequently I get over the

difficulty by using as illustrations

of this family of plants our native

" spider orchids " or " greenhoods "

—types which are generally well

known to most country school

children. After the child has seen

a few specimens of such flowers he

will begin to notice that there is a

peculiar " something " about them

which marks them off from the

many other wild flowers, and places

them in a class by themselves.

In a very short time he will be

able to place in this class a number

of plants with which he has hitherto

not been very familiar, and eventu-

ally many which are new to him.

In other words he has acquired the

" orchid eye," so that he will be

able with certainty to refer to this

order, plants which he has never

seen before. 1 have amongst my

collectors little children of eight,

F I G . 1 .

C A L A D E N I A CAIRNSIANA.

(Flower natural size.) A Spider Orchid. Bloomx September

and October.

who, with no further instruction

than I have indicated, can tell a new

orchid almost without a failure.

Fio. 2.

PTEROSTYLIS UEFJ.EXA.

(Natural size.) A " Greenhood." Blooms in May and

June.

The " orchid e y e " is quickly

followed by the " orchid fever,"

which is the least painful of all

known fevers, and a most desirable

and interesting ailment for all chil-

dren to have.

Now, it ought surely to be possible

to describe in words this strange

" something," which leads to the

detection of this flower. Let us

try. If you look into the centre of

almost any flower you will see rods

(sometimes long, sometimes ex-

ceedingly short), with little yellow

knobs on the end of them. These

are known as the " stamens," the

little knobs themselves are called

" anthers." Besides the stamens

you will find in the heart of a flower

one or more other rods without

yellow knobs, and these are called

the " style," their tips being known

as the " stigma." The stamens and

the. styles are concerned in the re-

production of the plant. These

two parts are distinct and separate

from each other in all flowers except

the family of orchids. But in the

orchid a strange thing has happened,

—the stamens and the style have

become united so as to form what

is called the " column," and this

alone is sufficient to give a peculiar

appearance to the flower.

The column may assume all sorts

of peculiar and fantastic shapes,

but is most commonly rod-shaped

with the anther fastened to the top

of it, and the stigma indicated by a

glistening spot on the front of it.

When the flower becomes fertilized

the little yellow grains (" pollen "}

contained in the anthers escape,

and either fall on to the sticky sur-face of the stigma or are conveyed there by insects.

Another very marked feature which will help you to pick out all but one family (the Thelymttras) of our orchids is the presence of a tongue or " labellum." * This tongue is often very beautiful, as in the spider orchids ; sometimes it is sensitive and will fly up suddenly when touched, as in some of the " greenhoods." Often its shape is most remarkable.

To briefly repeat what you have just read—every orchid must have a column, and the next most im-portant feature present in nearly all the orchids of our State is the labellum. If you can recognize these two parts you will have gained the " orchid eye."

Immediately outside of and surrounding the column, you may count, three leaf-like divisions of the flower, usually coloured, and known as the " petals." In all orchids (with the exception of the " Thehjmitras ") one of these petals has become so much altered in shape as to deserve a special name, the " tongue " or " labellum," to which I have just, drawn your atten-tion. Most of our orchids are therefore described as possessing only two petals and a tongue.

• " L a b e l l u m " literally means " a little l ip," but is popularly and more correctly referred to as the " tongue " of an orchid.

Outside the petals, springing from positions intermediate be-tween them, are still three other divisions of the flower. These are called the " sepals."

Fio. 3.

TH KLVMITRA t'AUC'XFLORA.

(Spike of flowers natural size.)

The flowers of this orchid expand only in very hot weather. Blooms in October. Flowers white or blue.

The chief terms, therefore, with which you must become familiar if you wish to study our orchids a r e _ column, anther, pollen, stigma, labellum, petals, and sepals. When you have fairly

Fid. 4.

PRASOPHYLLUM NIGRICANS.

(Natural size.)

Blooms April. Flowers dark-purple or prune-coloured. An enlargement of the flower is shown on the left, and of the labellum on right of main figure.

mastered the meanings of these words you will find little difficulty in following the descriptions of the different species which go to form this large order.

1 ought to tell you that so far as South Australia is concerned almost all our orchids grow from " tubers," commonly and incor-rectl} called " bulbs." There is a tall handsome orchid, known as t h e " Wild hyacinth," growing in the very hot weather (December and January), which is one of the exceptions to this rule. In tropical countries most orchids are epiphytic, that is to say they are to be found growing on other plants, although (unlike the mistle-toe) they do not gain their nourish-ment from these plants. In this State we have only one orchid which has this peculiar habit, and it is found far up in the interior, near Lake Eyre.

Plants belonging to this order are sometimes extremely small, with very tiny flowers. An ex-ample of this class (fig. 4) may be found in full bloom during the month of April. I t is leafless, varies from 2in. to Tin. in height, and has tiny dark purple flowers growing in a spike and turned up-side, down. I t belongs to the family of Prasophyllum (pras-o-fil'-um). On the other hand, in the same family (Prasophyllum) we have some exceedingly tall orchids, measuring as much ns

4ft. 6in. in height. The wild hyacinth orchid is also very tall, 3ft. and upwards.

Every orchid has its special time of blooming, and although this may vary by a week or two in different districts, yet in the same district it will reappear year after year with the greatest regularity. Some forms bloom in the autumn. Such, for example, are the little Prasophyllum to which I have just referred, and another small species which is called the " parson's bands,"1 so called from the two little white, sepals which stick out in front. Others bloom in the winter— for example, most of the "green-hoods."2 Others are spring forms, such as the beautiful "spiders" '1

and " horned orchids."4 Still others bloom only in the fiercest heat, when most other vegetation has perished, and amongst these we find the " wild hyacinth,"5 some of the tall Prasophyllumsthree of the " greenhoods," and a dainty white or pink form growing spirally on a spike and known as Spiranthes.'

This last (Spiranthes) is the only family which we share in common with Europe ; all the others are peculiarly Australian.

The tubers of orchids ought not to be collected by children, as they are probably the annual source of

1 Eriocliilus. 4 Diuris. 2 Pterostylis. 4 Dipodium. 8 Caladenias. " e.g., Fig. 35.

7 Fig. 23.

supply of most of the new plants. They may, it is true, be grown from seed, but years must elapse before a plant can be cultivated in this way.

FIG. 5 .

ERIOCHILUS AUTUMNALIS.

(Natural size.) (" Parson's Bands.")

Blooms in April.

II. THE FAMILY PTEROSTYLIS (GREENHOODS.)

UR winter is given over largely to the family Pterostylis ('•' green-hoods "), which com-

prises sixteen known species in this State.

Although called " greenhoods." there are some which can hardly be callod green. For instance, there is one, Pterostylis vittata, in which the hood is greenish with broad reddish bands.

FIG. (i.

The column (c) anil the tongue (i) of a " Greenhood," (Pterostylis rufa). (a) Anther, (w) wings of column, (ap) appendage of tongue. The stigma is situated on the front of column at point

You will notice that this, like every other plant, has two names— a Christian (specific) and a sur-name (family or generic).

In our own case we write our Christian name first and our sur-name last. This custom is reversed in the case of plants, the surname generally being a Greek one and the Christian name a Latin. This is more useful than might be supposed, because the names are both carefully chosen and generally tell you a good deal about the orchid. For instance, " Pterostylis " is the Greek for " winged column," and at once indicates that every member of this family has wings to its columns. These are shown in fig. 6, and will be referred to again. "Vittata " is a Latin word signifying " banded." We therefore remem-ber that in the instance of this particular member the hood is banded.

Very often there is no common name for an orchid, and there is no other way but to use the long scientific name.

Pterostylis vittata (fig. 7) blooms for several months, and is generally to be found in rough ground amongst the spiky or prickly bushes. Its hood* is very much bent down, and is similar in shape to a helmet. There are usually several flowers on each plant, and it varies in height from 2in. or 3in. to over a foot. I t

* The hood is formed by the two petals and the upper sepal.

Kiu. 8.

P T E R O S T Y L I S NANA.

(Natural size.) One of the smallest of the

" Greenhood " family.

Blooms June to August.

P T E R O S T Y L I S VITTATA.

(Natural size.) Blooms May to July.

no. n.

PTEROSTYLIS LONOIFOLIA.

(Flowers natural size.) Hlooms June and July.

is to be found nearly all over the State. The leaves do not form a rosette near the ground, but climb up the stem, generally growing wider and wider as they approach the top. They are shorter and broader than in another species, of which I shall have something to say presently. Below the hood is a wide reddish plate, made by the union of two of the sepals, and on this plate rests the labellum.

If an insect touches this labellum it flies sharply up as though a spring had been released, and carries the insect into the hood. If you look again at fig. 6 you will see what a wonderful plan of Nature this is to secure the fertilization of the flower. Pig. 6 is a photograph of the column, not of Pterostylis vittata, but of Pterostylis ru/a, though the plan is similar in both. You will see that the hood has been stripped away so-as to show the column. Now, when the labellum is erect the insect is. unable to escape at either side because of the hood. I t cannot escape in front because of the labellum, nor behind because of the column. If it wants to get out it must crawl up between these two shadowy wings attached to the upper part of the column, which look like the blades of hatchets. There is a fairly wide space between these blades at the back, but the front edges are pretty close together, and have cunningly devised hairs which turn inwards and so prevent the insect from escaping that way.

It therefore continues to crawl up towards the anther, which closes the top of the space like the lid of a box.

The ingenuity of the contrivance can now be understood. The anther has a little hinge at the back, and as the insect presses against it, it gradually opens on the hinge and allows the prisoner to escape, but not before the latter has carried away some of the pollen of the anther on its head or body. When it gets imprisoned in another flower it smears this pollen on the stigma, situated about half-way up the front of column, and so fertilizes that flower.

Pterostylis longijolia (fig. 9) is a good deal like Pterostylis vittata. I t grows taller and is more slender than vittata, the leaves are much longer and narrower, the flowers have not the reddish tints, and although there are bands on the hood these are narrow and dark-green in colour. Its habit of growth is similar to vittata, but it begins to bloom later (in June).

Although neither of these plants is provided with rosette leaves near the ground when fully developed, yet they and all other species of Pterostylis are so provided in an early stage of their growth. As the stem grows in height, however, so it carries up in certain species these rosette leaves, which become changed in shape and arrange themselves around it in a spiral manner.

Pterostylis nana (fig. 8) is a quaint little orchid. It has not got stem leaves like vittata and

F I G . 1 0 .

P T E R O S T Y L I S NUTANS.

(Nearly natural size.) Blooms September and October.

longijolia, but still retains the baby rosette at the base of the stem. The flower is single. I t is quite green, and generally 2in. to 4in.

high. The conjoined* sepals do not droop and form a plate as in the two foregoing species, but stand

FLO. I I .

PTKROSTYLTS MCTICA.

(Nearly natural size.) Blooms in August and September.

erect, partially blocking the entrance to the hood, their ends being carried up on each side of it like two little

* Joined together.

horns. Inside the hood will be found the column and small oblong labellum. This small orchid begins to bloom in June, and is found abundantly at the roots of trees.

Pterostylis nutans (fig. 10) is not a common orchid, and need not be looked for before September. It is to be found in the Mount Barker and Meadows districts, but it also occurs elsewhere. There is only one flower on the stalk, and this, as the word nutans signifies, bends over as though modestly nodding. Its leaves are at the base, but the plant is much taller and stouter and the flower bigger than Pterostylis nana.

The four species o f " greenhoods " which I have shortly described illustrate very well the two main groups into which that family is divided, for there are some species which resemble P. vittata and P. longifolia in having two of their sepals joined together and turned dowuwards, while all the rest have their joined sepals turned upwards, as in P. nana and P. nutans.

Belonging to the former group are P. mutica, P. rufa, and P. barbata.

P. mutica (fig. 11), so called from the absence of long points or tails to the sepals, has very small flowers. It is common in certain parts of the North, on Yorke Peninsula, and at Murray Bridge. It blooms in August.

P T E R O S T Y L I S CURTA ( S I D E AND F R O N T V I E W S ) .

(Natural size.) Blooms July to September.

The middle photograph shows the sensitive labellum with the little appendage a t the base, and also the hinge. There may also be seen the winged column from which the genus takes its name.

P. barbata will be readily recog-nized by its tongue, which is quite different to that of any other of

our " greenhoods," I t is like a piece of coarse hairy thread with a little red knob at the end. I t

hangs out of the hood and attracts the attention of insects, which are thus induced to visit, the flower and fertilize it.

F I G , 13,

PTEROSTYLIS CUCCLLATA.

(About two-thirds natural size.;

Blooms August.

P. ruja is a very late bloomer and should be looked for in Decem-ber. The rosette leaves are withered by the time the plant-

is in flower. It will be known by its reddish flowers, by the long tails to its joined sepals, and by its yellow withered rosette leaves.

All the flowers in the second group are single (with one exception), that is to say, you never find more than one on a stalk. Besides the two already described, there are nine others, none of which, unfortunately, have familiar names. These are P. concinna, P. pedunculata, P. curt,a, P. cucullata, P. jurcata, P. praecox, P. reflexa, P. obtusa, and P. parviflora.

The first of these, P. con-cinna, I have never yet found in South Australia ; some of you may be more fortunate. In appearance it is very like P. nana, but it has a neat little v-shaped piece nipped out of the tip of its tongue. A single specimen was found at Swanport on the River Murray many years ago, and the boy who discovers another will find himself botanically famous. I t is not very rare in the neighbouring State, and should therefore be looked for near the Victorian border.

P. pedunculata is another species which also at first sight resembles P. nana; it is, however, bigger, and the flower has dark markings on it.

P. curta (fig. 12) and P. cucullata (fig. 13) are both illustrated, so that I need say but little about them. You will noticc that the former has a stiff "military attitude, and it has also a twisted cayenne-coloured tongue which )rou should examine when you find a specimen. P. cucullata (fig. 13) is a very interest-ing big fellow, with dark markings on its hood and sepals. I think, however, it feels the cold badly, because you will notice that it is muffled up, sometimes to the ears, in an overcoat of big leaves. In this last respect it resembles a near relative, P. jurcala, which has also a very leafy stem. This latter species has hitherto only been found on the soutli coast of Kangaroo Island and in the vicinity of Mount Gambier. Some of my specimens were collected in the dry bed of the Stun'sail Boom River in the hot month of January.

P. precox and P. reflexa are very much alike, but the flower of the former has dark bands on it and is smaller, and the leaves also are smaller than in P. reflexa. It seems most at home on Kangaroo Island, although I have also re-ceived specimens from Port Victor. The name, which means " early," would suggest that it blooms sooner

Fia. 14.

AciANTHUS EXSERTtrS.

(The " Mosquito Orchid.") (About natural size.) Blooms May to July.

FIG. 15.

CYRTOSTYLIS RENIVORMIS.

(About natural size.) Blooms June and July. Flowers reddish,

brown.

than other " greenhoods." This, however, is not the case, as P. vittata, P. longijolia, P. nana, P. reflexa all appear earlier in the season. Its time of blooming is July,

P. reflexa (fig. 2) is exceedingly common in most parts of the State. Both species have sharp-pointed tongues.

In this respect they differ from P. obtusa, which has quite a blunt tongue. This species is said to have been found at Port Elliot. For many years I hunted it un-successfully, but two years ago I ran it to earth in the Ravine de Casoars, in the unfrequented west coast of Kangaroo Island. Since then. I have received specimens from Mount Muirhead, collected by a school child in that district.

I am also indebted to another school child at Yatala Vale for set-ting at rest any doubts as to the existence in this State of P. parvi-flora. Several years ago I received a very imperfect specimen of what I believed to be this orchid from Myponga, but could not settle the question of identity until last year (1910), when the Yatala Vale speci-mens arrived. This plant grows in swampy soil and blooms in De-cember. It, differs from all the others in the second group in that the flowers are multiple, that is to say, a number occur on each plant.

a chance that the weight of the visitor may be sufficient to set in motion the lever-like action, and so bring about its imprisonment. The rest of the labellum is not sensitive,

HI. FERTILIZATION OF THE GREENHOODS.

hoods."

SOMETHING has al-ready been said in reference to the fertili-zation of " Green-propose now to deal

with thip matter in greater detail. If you examine the tongue (fig.12) of any " greenhood " in the second group, you will find that near the point, where its hinge is at-tached to the column, there is a peculiar little semicircular appara-tus something like a watch spring, with a small tuf t of hairs at its free end. This is called the appendage. The slightest weight on this tuf t when the flower is erect will make the appendage act like a lever, and cause the tongue to fly up against the hatchet-shaped wings of the column, where it will remain for a considerable time. It then gets " tired " and falls down again. Be-sides the lever action, however, the appendage is also " sensitive " when it is not " tired." The flower has thus, as it were, two strings to its bow, by either of which it may bring about fertilization. If even a very small insect visits it when not " tired," it will imprison the insect as soon as it touches the appendage, and fertilization will then take place exactly in the same way as in the case of P. vittata. On the other hand, should an insect visit it when " tired," there is still

Fia. 16.

C O R Y S A N T H E S PRUINOSA.

(Natural size.) (Side view.)

F I G . 1 7 .

C O R Y S A N T H E S PRUINOSA.

(Natural size.) (Front view.)

Blooms July and August. Flowers dark purple.

FIG. 18.

C R Y P T O S T Y L I S LONGIFOLIA.

(About one-half natural size.) A handsome orchid, which does not grow

from bulbs. I t blooms in swamps in December. Flowers reddish-yellow.

and this is of distinct advantage to the plant, because were this other-wise the insect would probably be carried up against the wings of the column, and so prevent complete closure of the little fertilising c h a m b e r . It could then easily escape without accom-plishing the purpose for which the labellum was designed.

In "greenhoods" of the first group, sometimes only the merest trace of the ap-pendage is to be found, but if you experiment you will find that this is the only sensitive spot on the ton-gue ; were it otherwise the latter would often fly up too soon, and thus defeat its own purpose.

Before leaving this family, please take another look at the hood of any one of its members. How admirably designed the whole thing is. One of its uses in the process of fertilization has already been explained, but it has also to protect the precious pollen in the anther or freshly deposited on the stigma from the action of wind or rain. When the wind or rain drives from behind the whole column is in a cosy retreat ; and when it drives from the front the labellum flies up and so pro-tects the front of the column. Even P. barbata, with its

curiously constructed tongue, is not left defenceless against the ele-ments. The hood is pinched together in front as a safeguard from the weather, and the very

F I G . 19 .

DLPODICM L'UNCTATOM.

(Flowers natural size ; white or pink.) The wild hyacinth, blooming at Christmas

time. I t is leafless.

hairs on the labellum point down-wards, and so form a very effective breakwind to the entrance. These hairs also limit the visits of insects to

those which fly, the crawling insects being unable to travel against the opposing points which they en-counter.

Fin. 20.

ORTHOCERAS STRICTUM,

(Flowers natural size.)

A remarkable orchid, bloom-ing in the very hot weather (November-January). Flowers reddish - brown or sometimes green.

F I O . 2 1 .

CAI.OCIIILUS ROBERTSONI.

(Flower about natural size.)

A singular and beautiful orchid. Labellum, deep prune-coloured. I t blooms in October and November.

You may take it for granted tha t every detail in the structure of an orchid serves a purpose. I t is not always easy to discover what that purpose is, but nothing is superfluous.

You will frequently find dead mosquitoes and gnats inside the " greenlioods." so that it has often been sug-gested that these plants are carnivorous in their habits. This, however, is incorrect. I t is true that they offer a reward to induce certain in-sects to visit them, and it has lately been pointed out by a Western Australian observer (Mr. Oswald Sar-gent*) that this reward is of an intoxicating nature. In-sects, when they partake of it to excess, actually become drunk ! Partial intoxication would have the effect of lengthening the stay of the visitor in the fertilizing cham-ber, and this in itself would be an advantage to the plant. Then, too, the insect probably rapidly acquires a taste for the intoxicant, and this would induce him to visit other plants in search of it. Of course it seems highly im-moral for the " greenhood " to lay traps for the unwary ; on the other hand, we might

say that the insect has valuable opportunities of acquiring those lessons in self-restraint which may be of use in its future career.

F I G . 22 .

* Annals of Botany, 1909, p. 271.

C ALE AN A MAJOR.

(Rather more than half natural size). A hot weather orchid, blooming in December.

The lowest flower in the picture is closed by the labellum. Flowers reddish-brown.

Fio. 23.

SPIRANTHES AUSTRALIS.

(About two-thirds natural size.) Spiranthes is the only family of orchids

which we share with the old world. This species is sometimes pink, sometimes white. It grows in January in swamps.

MICROTIS ORBICULARIS.

(Nearly natural size.) A swamp orchid, with minute flowers. Two

little flowers are shown magnified on the left ot the picture. Blooms in November, in swampy country.

28

IV. FOUR SMALL FAMILIES.

[E will now pass to four small families of orchids, each of which is represented by one,

^noT'^more than two, species in this State.

The first of these is Acianthus, or the mosquito orchid, of which we

Fio. 25.

K '

CALADEHIA DEFOKMIS.

(Natural size.) The first Spider Orchid to appear

the season. I t begins to bloom at the July. The flower is blue, rarely white.

have two species, viz., A. exsertus and A. caudatus. They are generally found growing at the roots of trees, and will be known by their spike of flowers and by their single roundish green leaf, red underneath, which clasps the stem.

In the case of A. exsertus (fig. 14), the flowers are very small, about

the size of an ordinary mos-quito, and vary in colour from pale to dark pink. This species is very common, and begins to bloom in May. Some late specimens may still be found blooming in July.

A. caudatus is a very much rarer plant, and begins to bloom in July. The flowers are dark-red in colour, the leaf is generally smaller than in A. exsertus, and one of its sepals is produced above the column like a long tail. From this last feature it derives its name. I have found it at the Meadows, Square Water-liole, Kuitpo, Port Victor district, and DeMole River, on the west end of Kangaroo' Island. I t is an exceedingly pretty little orchid.

If you examine the column of a mosquito orchid you will see that it bends for-ward and expands at the end into a sort of little cup. On the lower edge of this cup will.

during end of

be seen a small, shining, sticky surface (the stigma), and lying inside the cup are the yellow pollen masses. Take a pin or a bristle and touch these masses ever so lightly and you will notice how easily they come away on the point. If you now touch the stigma with them they Will adhere to it. This is practically what occurs in nature. An insect crawls into the flower, crawls over the anther, and so re-moves the masses of pollen. It then crawls over the stigma and leaves the pollen stick-ing to its surface, thus fertilizing the plant. The labellum of Acianthus is not sensitive, and the process of fertilization is therefore quite different to what occurs in the " greenhoods."

The family of *Cyrtostylis (curved column) has only one

representative, C. renijormis (fig. 15) in Australia. I t is fairly common, growing in similar places to Acianthus, which to a careless observer it closely resembles. The leaf is somewhat similar, but is green below, and not red as in Acianthus. Then in struc-ture, too, it is very different, the sepals and labellum es-pecially being quite unlike in

the two families. I t blooms in June and July, and is fertilized by insects.

Anothor small family, consisting of a single species in South Aus-tralia, is Corysanthes (helmet-

FIG. 26.

* Kurtos (Greek)—Curved. Stulos (Greek)—A column.

D I U R I S PALACHILA.

(About two-thirds natural size.) Blooms in September^ The flowers are yellow,

with darker 'spots on them.

. V

.1 J . . . T . F I G . 2 7 .

LYI'F.RANTHUS NIGBICANS.

(About two-thirds natural size.)

Note its thick, fleshy leaf. The flowers are purple. I t blooms in September and October, chiefly in burnt scrub.

shaped flowers). Corysanthes •pruinosa (figs. 16 and 17), as .the illustration shows, is one of our daintiest and quaintest little orchids. I t grows close to the ground on top of a round, thiekish leaf which is green helow.' The flower is dark purple with pretty vein-ings, and the labellum is large and toothed on the edges. It begins to bloom in July, and must 'be looked for in very moist places, amongst moss, maidenhair fern, or under wet decaying twigs and leaves.

Leptoceras (delicate horns) is the name of the fourth of these small families.

L. fimbriata* (sometimes called Eriochilus fimbriatus), the solitary species, is singular rather than beautiful in ap-pearance. It is not common, the leaves being more fre-quently found than the flowers. There is only one leaf (occasionally two) clasp-ing the stem close to the ground. If you remove it and spread it out you will see that it is corded, triangular in shape, green on top, and pink or reddish below. There is generally only one flower on each plant, but there may be two or even three. The flowers vary from yellowish in

* Fig. 30.

colour to a warm .reddish-brown.) The labellum has fringed edges, and the two petals stand straight up on each side of the column like two horns (hence its name).

It is quite unlike any other of our orchids. I t blooms near Port Victor, Inman Valley and neigh-bourhood as e,arly as April, but late specimens are to be found in the Mount Lofty Ranges even in July.

F I G . 28.

y

V. EPIPHYTES AND THINGS.

GLOSSODIA MAJOK.

(About three-quarters natural size.) A beautiful purple species with a smooth

tongue. Blooming in September and October.

•N a small work of this W description it wilt not

wimsic; b e P o s s i b l e t 0 < l c a l w i t h

' jffPh> all the remaining families of South Australian orchids even in briefest detail. Instead you will find a number of illustrations which may be taken as. types

of some of these families. You must recollect that each family may include quite a number of different species; but if you regard these pic-tures as portraits of the heads of various clans (so to speak) you will not have a great difficulty in deciding by the family likeness to which family (genus) a fresh species belongs.

Hitherto I have spoken only of terrestrial forms, that is to say, those that grow from tubers in the earth. This group comprises by far the largest number of our orchids. But if you were to visit tropical or semi-tropical countiies, like the Northern Territory or Queensland, you would find that the order of things is reversed. Instead of hunting for your speci-mens on tlie ground, it would be necessary for you to direct your attention chiefly to the trunks or branches of trees

or to decaying vegetation on rocks, where these plants are to be found growing.

On one occasion a lady who had lived much in Madagascar remarked to me when we were out on the hunt : " I have been so accustomed to looking up into trees for my specimens that I cannot get into the habit of searching for them on the ground." In our own case we have become so accustomed to looking on the ground that it is possible we may have missed one or two species growing elsewhere.

Among the epiphytes are to be found the largest, the most beau-tiful, and the most valuable orchids in the world. Some of them have been sold at 2,000 guineas apiece in the open market; others have brought still higher prices privately ; and others again are so priceless that their owners have refused to part with them for the most dazzling and tempting offers. Many great men are orchid-fanciers, and amongst these is no less a person than the famous soldier, Lord Kitchener of Khartoum. Scientifi-cally, however, the epiphytic orchid is of no greater interest than those which grow in our own State. In some of the eastern States one of these monsters attains a length of 30ft.*

The experiences of orchid hunters are amongst the weirdest and most thrilling on record. Here is one.

* Galcola Ledgerii.

Some years ago a young man, ignorant of the ways of the natives on the west coast of Africa, inno-cently collected a large number of

FIG. 29.

T H E L Y M I T R A ANTENNIFERA.

(Natural size.) Blooms .September and October.

A sweet-seented yellow orchid, with two peculiar dark-brown rabbit-ear-like apj>endages sticking out from the column.

specimens of a very rare orchid. Now, it so happened that among these savages the orchid was a holy or sacred flower. The snake was also held in veneration. In their eyes, to collect this orchid was the most deadly of sins. He was, of course detected, and seized by a band of howling painted savages, who thrust him through a small opening into their snake temple. This place consisted of a sort of vault teeming with hundreds of poisonous reptiles. By an act of almost superhuman strength be escaped again through the opening before any of these loathsome creatures had bitten him. He found himself once more in the midst of his enemies. Fortunately for him he had in the crowd some white friends of great influence. These interceded for him, and as an act of great generosity the native priests agreed to forego tlie punishment to which he had been condemned, and to substitute the one awarded to a person who kills a snake accidentally. This was little less barbarous than the first. A hole was to be dug in the ground into which he was to be thrust. A quantity of dry rushes was to be heaped over the top of the hole and set on fire. The victim had then to spring up and rush for the nearest water, and was to be cut and hacked by his enemies until he reached it. This, of course, in most cases meant a horrible death. The sentence was carried out, literally. The natives expected

Fig. 30.

IJEPTOCEUAS F1MBK1ATA.

(About two-thirds natural size.)

Blooms in May and June. Flowers reddish-brown. Labellum fringed.

rig 31. ;

CALADENIA PATERSONI.

(Natural size.)

Blooms August and September. Probably the most handsome of our Spider-Orchids. Note the long tails to sepals and petals, and the absence of the very long; combs on the back edges of labellum which characterize Caladenia dilatata.

him to make for the liver, which was some distance off, and had placed themselves at various points of vantage to intercept him m his run. Fortunately his friends again came to his rescue. They knew of a pool of water in a different direction, and in-formed him of this fact. At the critical mbment he sprang up, hair and clothing well ablaze, and made for this pool. He escaped with his life, but he collected no more orchids.

In South Australia only one true epiphytic orchid lias so far been found* and if you want to secure this prize you will probably have to travel in November or December right into the desolate heart of Australia, where it is to be seen growing on the euca-lypts on Cooper's Creek, near the place where Burke and Wills lost their lives.

I know of no other orchid which grows in that terrible country, and there are but few enthusiasts who would undertake such a journey in the deadly heat for a single species. Possibly you may-have friends who visit those parts for other purposes, and they may help you. My specimens are dried, and

* Cymbidium canalicvlatum.

therefore a picture of this plant does not appear here.

In Victoria and Tasmania a few epiphytic forms are to be found which might reasonably he ex-pected to occur here. There seems to be no very good reason why they

Fig. 32.

T H E L Y M I T R A MACMILLANI.

(About two-thirds natural size.)

Flowers salmon-coloured. Blooms in October. An enlargement of column is shown on left. I ts appendages are yellow.

Fig. 33.

T H E L Y M I T R A EPIPACTOIDES.

(Half natural size.)

Blooms early October. Flowers handsome, greenish, iridescent. Enlarged characteristic column on left.

should not yet be discovered in this State.

Figs. 18 and 19 illustrate two of our orchids which do not grow from tubers, and which belong neither to the true epiphytes nor to the terrestrials. They seem to occupy a position midway between these two great groups. These may be called transitional forms, that is to say, their ancestors were pro-bably true epiphytes, but owing to changed conditions, climatic or otherwise, these plants are gradually acquiring the terrestrial habit. 1 know that some botanists regard the Wild hyacinth as a true epiphyte, believing that its roots, if traced deeply enough, will be found connected with the roots of a neighbouring gum tree. I have frequently tried to verify this statement, but have never been able to satisfy myself that such is the case.

Orthoceras (fig. 20) is one of our most interesting hot weather orchids, and is, I believe, the only Australian genus of which fossilized (petrified) traces have been found. Singularly enough this discovery was made far up in Central Australia.

pig- 22 is another illustra-tion about which I should like

Fie. 34.

T H E L Y M I T R A VENOSA.

(Three-quarters natural size.) Blooms in December in swampy country.

Flowers, delicate blue with veinings. En-largements of column, with its characteristic spiral appendages, shown on right.

Fig. 35.

I 'RASOPHYLLUM A U S T B A L E .

(About two-thirds natural size.)

Blooms in December in swamps. On left of main figure are enlargements of the flower itself, from different aspects.

to say a few' words, because this is an instance of how a very striking and remarkable species may escape notice for many years. Caleana major was not known to occur here until 1901, when a single specimen was found at Mylor. Although hunted diligently, five years elapsed before a few more specimens were discovered in one little spot on Mount Lofty. A few weeks later quite a large number of specimens were sent to me by a very small schoolboy from an out-of-the-way place called Dingabaldinga. The tongue of this specie^ is, sensitive, and will gradually curl itself against the opening into the flower when irritated. An insect may be thus imprisoned, and so cause fertiliza-tion of the plant. You will notice that the flowers are turned upside down and closely resemble flying ducks.

Curiously enough another mem-ber of this small but remarkable family was brought to me for identification only last year (1910). It had been found growing at Kuitpo, and proved to be a form with an extremely narrow and twisted leaf—Caleana minor. Thus, out of the four species known to science, this State possesses two.

>

>

VI. CONCLUDING REMARKS. COLLECTING AND PRE-SERVING SPECIMENS.'

UST a few words in c o n c l u s i o n . Re-member that the orchid is an in-

teresting and beautiful flower which may be easily exterminated. Therefore, children should never dig up the tubers. The leaves and the rest of the plant may be taken. Never pluck a single specimen more than is necessary. In most cases two specimens should be sufficient. Carefully press and dry these between pieces of blotting or other absorbent paper. The specimen should be nicely arranged, so that when dry the shape and structure of all its parts, especially the tongue and column, may be easily seen. The blotters should be put between two smooth, flat boards and a weight placed on top until the plants are dry. Your plants may be

examined from time to time* to see how they are getting on. If you look at them twenty-four hours after they have been in press you will be able to see whether they are in the best possible position to show their important parts. If not, you may make the necessary alteration.

In every case state the date on which the plant was collected, the name of the place where it was collected, the kind of soil in which it grew, and if you know it, the name of the plant itself. When thoroughly dry you may take out your specimens and fasten them by small strips of gummed paper to thin pieces of cardboard, after which they will always be available for ready reference. Plants care-fully dried will keep in excellent condition for almost any length of time. I have in my collection of orchids some perfect specimens collected in 1827.

* Except in case of Corysanthes, which should not be disturbed for six or eight weeks; otherwise it will get into a shape-less, sticky mass.

P L A T E I I I .

ROBERT BROWN,

' The greatest of botanists " ; Matthew Flinders's Natural is t ; subsequently Keeper of Botany at British Museum.

[Born (Montrose) 1773 ; died (London) 1858.1

VII. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

R O B E R T B R O W N .

(Flinders\s Naturalist.)

[Born (Montrose), 1773 ; died (London), 1858.]

0 - workers in other branches of science than botany the fame of Robert Brown may

be little known, and to the public generally his name bears no sig-nificance whatever. I t may seem strange that the labours of this eminent man should be almost entirely forgotten in that part of the globe where all his early in-vestigations were conducted. Yet this is hardly a matter of surprise when you consider that even the Australian newspapers of the day passed his death without comment, or were content with a formal obituary extract from The London Times. It is true that 1858 was a year which followed very closely in the trail of some of our great his-torical events. The horrors of the Indian Mutiny still filled pages of our files, and the records of the Crimea were scarcely dry. England had also had her little wars with Persia and with China, and in this country the feverish figlit for gold excluded all lighter considerations from men's minds. The time was unfitted for the pursuit of literary and scientific culture, which is the

peculiar privilege of a leisured nation.

And now another danger loomed ominously near. Palmerston had lost office, and the reins of Govern-ment had passed into the hands of a Cabinet which would brook no insolence from France. The Jingoes of both countries were mad for war, and shouted defiance at each other across the Channel. If this was an anxious time for the mother country, think of the mental tension among her sons in the antipodes, whom news reached with sickening slowness. Men avoided their French neighbours, and scanned the horizon for the sail which should make their peril real. To fully understand the powerful feeling of excitement which stirred the Australian public at this time one must read the newspapers of the day. Matters of controversy —such as the appointment of a third Judge in Sydney—paled into insignificance before the more serious questions of an impending invasion. And it was amid such chapters of British history as these that Robert Brown closed his eyes on that world by whose great militaiy struggles and sordid ambitions he had been so strangely uninfluenced. For fifty years he had immured himself within the walls of his laboratoiy, and he was so dissociated with all those big emotional events to which alone the pulses of the new dominion had been accustomed to vibrate, that the passing of this man of peace

was almost unnoticed by colonials. Modestly he had entered their annals, and modestly he left them, until science should once more re-quire him.

We cannot but admire the equanimity of this man when we consider that, though the whole of his early manhood was spent in the stirring atmosphere of war, he nevertheless pursued with an un-deviating singleness of purpose one lofty ideal throughout the years of his long life. That he achieved his ideal to his own satisfaction is highly improbable., for he was of a sensitive nature, and painfully conscious of his own imperfections. That he developed force of character and width of judgment in consequence of the high aim to which he aspired we are bound to believe, for of no man is it more true than of our botanist that his mind lived after him, and became a valuable legacy to succeeding generations.

That low man seeks a little thing to do ;

Sees it,' and does i t ; This high man. with a great thing to

pursue. Dies ere he knows it.

—The Grammarian's Funeral.

After a lapse of half a century we have but scanty information with regard to the personality of the man behind that master-mind, which may so easily be traced in his works. Of bis great capacity as a thinker in wide generalizations, as well as on close specific lines of reasoning, we have ample and

eloquent testimony; but of the more delicate and subtle influence which helped to mould his indi-viduality we know little or nothing. Though an oracle in the learned world, he was a man of shy in-stincts, and with few intimate friends.

He was the descendant of several generations of Scottish clergymen ; and this fact, together with his accident of birth, may have done much to determine his philosophical cast of mind. His trend of thought must also have been influenced by such an early and permanent friendship as that which he con-tracted for his Montrose schoolmate —James Mill, afterwards a philo-sophical thinker of great power and originality.

Some of his education was re-ceived at Marischal College, Aber-deen, but at the age of 16 he was entered as a mcdical student at the University of Edinburgh. He left that seat of learning six years later, without a degree, having apparently no taste for the profession, except in so far as it assisted him in his favourite study of botany. This was evidently his natural bent, and the ability with which he pursued it attracted the attention and admiration of men who were both able and willing to help him. It culminated in an introduction to Sir Joseph Banks (President of the Royal Society of London), and this soon merged into a warm friend-

I B > ̂

\

C A L A D E N I A " D 1 L A T A T A .

A beautiful Spider Orchid.

A b o u t three-quarters natural size.

ship, which was destined to shape his future life. The five years which he spent in a home regiment as an army surgeon are only interesting in so far as they left him leisure and opportunity to make himself proficient in British botany. He had by this time ac-quired some standing in this science.

And then the chance of his life-time came. Sir Joseph Banks was himself a botanist of repute, and a noted traveller, having accompanied and financed Captain Cook in his celebrated trip round the world. It was on his recommendation that young Brown received the appoint-ment of naturalist to an expedition then about to start for New Holland, and having as its object the survey of the southern coast of the conti-nent, which at that time was practically unknown.

For the next few years his story becomes inseparable from that of Captain Flinders, the intrepid com-mander of the Investigator—a little sloop of 334 tons. The preparation for this momentous journey are best read in the pages of Flinders's own journal. No sadder record is to be found anywhere than within the two large volumes which constitute " The Voyage to Terra Australis." I must only touch on such headings as concern the history of Brown.

Some of the ponderous in-structions given to the commander of the expedition must have had a special interest to Blown, for

very great stress is laid upon the careful collecting and preservation of plants and their subsequent safe delivery in London. There were no similar instructions with regard to zoology, and, although Brown was appointed as " naturalist," and ought to have overtaken this bra nch as well, I cannot find any report by him on the subject. Botany, how-ever, was evidently regarded as of great impoitance.

These instructions are emphatic and definite, and the appointment of a gardener as well as a naturalist gives additional force to them. They have had a very far-reaching effect in the scientific history and development of this continent, and are in marked contrast to the sub-sequent apathy of the Australian Governments in the carrying on of Brown's work. The supernumerary staff of the Investigator included a surgeon and assistant surgeon, an astronomer, a natural history painter (Frederick Bauer), a land-scape painter (William Westall), and among the midshipmen was young Franklin, afterwards the cele-brated Sir John Franklin, arctic explorer. The total number of lives on board was 88.

Brown's first landing-place was King George's Sound, where the party stayed for three weeks " in the season most favourable for our pursuits," he says—a statement which I have no doubt he would have cause to modify when his

44

knowledge of floral Australia be-came greater. December and the following four months spent in the survey of the south coast were, as everyone who had carried a vasculum knows, the most unsuit-able portion of the year during which botanical research could possibly be conducted. The con-ditions no doubt suited Flinders much better than they did Brown ; nevertheless the latter did splendid work. He was confronted with a flora almost entirely new to him. I t is true that before embarking he had had access to the small col-lection of dried specimens which Sir Joseph Banks himself had made on the east coast in his voyage with Captain Cook ; but in other respects he found the animal, as well as the vegetable, kingdom in a state of " topsy-turvey-dom."

Nearly everything was new to him. What could have been more perplexing and startling than the following zoological discovery which I quote from Flinders's journal ;—

" Among the reptiles was a variety of lizard, one of which of the larger size was met by Dampier on the west coast and described by him as ' a sort of iguana, but different from others in three remarkable particulars, for these had a larger and uglier head, and had no ta i l ; and at the rump instead of a tail there they had a stump of a tail, which appeared like another head, but not really such, being without

mouth and eyes. Yet this strange creature seemed by this means to have a head at each end ; and which may be reckoned a fourth difference, the legs also seemed all four of them to be forelegs, and seemingly the joints and bendings to be made as if they would go indifferently either head or tail foremost. They were speckled black and yellow like toads, and had scales or knobs on their backs like those of crocodiles. They were very slow in motion, and when a man comes nigh them they will stand and hiss, not endeavoring to get away. The body when opened hath a very unsavoury smell. The iguanas I have observed to be a very good meat, and I have often eaten them with pleasure; but, though I have eaten of snakes, crocodiles, and alligators, and many creatures tha t look frightfully

"enough, and there are few I would be afraid to eat, if pressed by hunger, yet I think my stomach would scarce have served to venture upon these New Holland iguanas, both the looks and the smell of them being so offensive.' "

This humorous description estab-lishes the identity of the reptile beyond all question, but Flinders's sense of absolute truthfulness induces him to add tha t " Dam-pier's description does not consist in being strictly accurate."

It was in a chaotic world of this sort that the greatness of Brown's

mental calibre, bis philosophical training and power of generaliza-tion, began to be manifested. Out of chaos in the plant life he evolved order and system—a system too masterly for any subsequent botanist to attack.

January was occupied in filling in the coastline between King George's Sound and Fowler's Bay, which latter place they left about the end of the month. The torrid heat of an Australian summer now began to add to the other discomforts of the exploring party. So far the country had yielded them little tha t was edible, and they had been living for months upon tha t most weari-some of ship diets—salt meat. Such a food was little suited for the merciless rays of a February sun. Flinders alludes to the weather in feeling terms. They had reached the Isle of St. Francis, and in reference to this lie says—

" The heat indeed was intense, the vegetation being almost burnt up. I t made walking a great fatigue, and this was augmented by frequently sinking into bird holes and falling upon the sand. The thermometer stood at 98 deg. in the shade."

We have known it much higher in Adelaide, but then we had creature comforts, which helped to render it endurable.

Robert Brown was with him on this visit, but failed to put in an appearance the following day.

4 5

Flinders, in his accurate way, notes the botanist 's first and only dere-liction of duty, but the entry carries the cxcuse with i t : —

" February 4.—The great heat deterred the naturalists (Brown and Bauer) from going on shore this morning, for the very little in the vegetable prcductions presented no inducement for the repetition of their fatigue."

Having thus satisfied his official conscience, he named the next two capes on the mainland after the delinquents—Cape Brown and Cape Bauer—the headlands of Streaky Bay. That they much appreciated their commander's thoughtful for-bearance is shown by the excess of zeal which these two gentlemen exhibited on Nuyt 's Archipelago a few days later.

" February 7.—Mr. Brown and his party returned from the eastern islands at 2 o'clock, bringing four kangaroos. Their size was no t superior to a hare, and they were miserably thin and infested with insects. Mr. Brown's pocket ther-mometer stood a t 125 deg. on the sand and 98 deg. in the shade."

Such a striking demonstration of of penitence must have been ex-tremely satisfying to men pining for the smell of a rumpsteak.

Poi t Lincoln was reached about the end of February, shortly after the sad incident of Cape Catas-trophe. This was a comparatively

pleasant anchorage after their recent experiences, and it also enabled them to secure a supply of fresh water, which they badly needed. The survey of Spencer's Gulf does not concern us, except that when they landed in the neighbourhood of Tort Augusta Flinders wrote that—

" Messrs. Brown, Bauer, and Westall, with attendants, set off on an excursion to the eastern mountains."

The important peak, some 3,000ft. •high, was called Mount Brown after our botanist.

The discovery of Kangaroo Island on .March 21st, 1802, forms interest-ing reading. They anchored in Nepean Bay on a Sunday evening. The leader was an old voyager ; but one can imagine the intense interest and mystery which this new coast possessed for him, and especially for Brown and others who had never before been beyond the British. Isles.

Time permitted them to remain in this restful paradise only a few days, in order to secure fresh meat, and from thence they proceeded to the top of Gulf St. Vincent, where they landed in the neighbourhood of the present town of Port Wake-field. But the fascination and delights of Kangaroo Island induced them soon to go south again, and, having explored the shores of the gulf, they returned there at the beginning of April.

While some of the party were at Cape Jervis, Flinders and Brown set off in a boat and made an examination of American River and Pelican Lagoon. It is a matter of surprise and interest to note that the emu* formerly inhabited the island, and was fairly numerous at time of their visit.

A few days later the historic meeting between the French and the British expeditions took place at Encounter Bay, and as the English commander was unable to speak French, and vice versa, Brown acted as interpreter in a rather one-sided and amusing conversation.

Port Jackson was reached about a month later. Here they took a much-needed rest, and then made north for the Gulf of Carpentaria, which was examined as well as the condition of the Investigator would permit. After much suffering and loss of life from scurvy, they once more returned to headquarters at Sydney. They had now been absent from England about two years ; and as it became necessary for Flinders to go home for a new vessel, Brown determined to remain behind with Bauer, and prosecute his botanical research until such time as his leader should return. During the 18 months that followed he carefully studied the botany, not only of New South Wales, but also the adjacent parts of the

*It was a different species to that of the mainland, and was unfortunately ex-terminated many years ago.

continent, and even paid a prolonged visit to Tasmania and its neighbour-ing islands.

The unfortunate events which exiled poor Flinders for many years are well known. The botanist and the artist were therefore compelled to sail for Europe when suitable opportunity offered. They arrived in London after an absence of more than four years, taking with tliem the greater part of their collection. Brown laments in his report tha t many of his best specimens and all the living plants from the south coast (a matter of great importance to this State) were lost in the wreck of the Porpoise, but he adds tha t the rest of his herbarium still included every species which he had found during the voyage.

It is not my intention to deal with the technical aspects of Brown's subsequent life. Had his reputation depended only on his investigations into the flora of New Holland and the important work which he afterwards published on that subject, he would have been regarded as a most brilliant scien-tist ; but his successful method of dealing with the difficult problem cf classification of plants and the almost equally difficult ques-tions of vegetable physiology and reproduction has entitled him with-out doubt to the magnificent com-pliment paid him by the illustrious Humboldt, who speaks of him as being "easily first among botanists."

During his life honours from our oldest Universities and from nearly every scientific society of repute poured in upon him, but it is questionable whether there was one of which he might more justly feel proud than tha t of " Foreign Associate of the Academy of Sciences of the Institute of France." When it is explained tha t the names of only eight foreign associates are allowed to appear on this dis-tinguished roll, and that " when death effaces one of these the name which appears most illustrious in the world of science outside France is designated to replacc i t ," you will understand what this dis-tinction means. On this roll have been inscribed such names as those of Newton, Linnceus, Liebnitz, and Eule r ; and among those who con-tested the particular death vacancy which Robert Brown was elected to fill were the names of Faraday, Herschel, Meckel, and others. Out of a possible 47 votes Brown scored 29, and no other of his famous competitors secured more than seven.

He was responsible for the naming and description of no less than 45 species of South Australian orchids.

Brown sat but once to the photographer, in the infant day,s of the new art. From an old engraving of this photograph I have been fortunate enough to secure the portrait in Plate I I I . (facing page 41).

P L A T E I V .

RALPH TATE, F.G.S., F.L.S.,

Elder Professor of Natural Science, University of Adelaide.

[Born (Northumberland) 1840; died (Adelaide) 1901.]

PROFESSOR R A L P H T A T E , F.G.S., F.L .S.

{Born (Alnwick, Northumberland), 1840 ; died (Adelaide), 1901.]

Ralph Tate was a man of marked personality, too rugged for the sensibilities of many with whom he came in contact, yet towards those who had won his regard a man of tender, human instincts.

Before all other things he was a scientist, and that in a much wider sense than is usual nowa-days. He had a comprehensive grasp of geology, together with its branches, and of botany. In a more restricted way he was also an authority on zoology.

The chair of Natural Science, which he occupied for many years in the University of Adelaide, rendered it necessary that he should teach all these subjects, and that he did so capably and well his many old students will gratefully acknowledge.

The result of his labours in these manifold fields are permanently embodied in papers and addresses too numerous to mention in the archives of South Australian Royal and other scientific societies. In addition to these he published while resident in this State a hand-book of " T h e Flora of Extra-tropical South Australia," and prior to leaving England a large

geological work, "The Lias of York-shire " and " The Appendix to Woodward's Mollusca."

He has left us as a further legacy the Tate Museum, housed at our University. This museum in-cludes, among other things, a valuable herbarium of South Aus-tralian plants, and is frequently consulted by students and others desirous of identifying botanical specimens.

Ralph Tate came of good scientific stock, his father (Pro-fessor Thomas T, Tate, F.R.A.S.) and his uncle (George Tate) both being prolific writers and men of eminence in the world of science. The former (1807-1888) was a well-known mathematician and physicist who invented the double-action air pump; the latter an archaeologist and geologist of high repute, and also a devotee of natural science in general. (See " Dictionary of National Bio-graphy " and the last edition of " Encyclopaedia Britannica.") With such a lineage his vocation would seem to have been inevitable. As a matter of fact he entered on his scientific studies under the tutelage of his Uncle George at the tender age of 12.

His early career was a dis-tinguished one, and on reaching his majority he had the honour of being elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

At the age of 23 he published the " Flora Belfastensis," and this was soon followed by another botanical paper " Upon the Flora of the Shetland Isles/'

At one time he thought of quali-fying for the medical profession, and actually pursued a portion of that curriculum, but ultimately relinquished it in favour of natural science.

He travelled extensively, especially in Central America, which he visited for geological purposes, though he likewise utilized the opportunity of also making investigations in the fauna and flora of that country.

He was appointed Elder Pro-fessor of Natural Science in the University of Adelaide in 1875, and occupied that chair with great distinction until his death some twenty-six years later.

He was chiefly instrumental in founding the Royal Society of South Australia, of which he be-came the first President, and of its popular branch, the Field Naturalists'.

The pursuit of his scientific in-vestigations carried him into all parts of this State (which then

included the Northern Territory). His ardour and capacity for work were unlimited.

The impetus which he gave to research work in South Australia can hardly be overestimated. The-countr}' of his adoption is indeed under a deep debt of gratitude to Ralph Tate, and many of our more thoughtful residents will readily concur with Mr. J. H. Maiden, of Sydney, who suggests that the name of our scientist should be commemorated by " a complete edition of his works, a mural tablet,, or statue."

In a small way this was done by the University in 1904, when a medal bearing his name was awarded for original research work in geology. This is a step in the right direction, but does not ade-quately commemorate the name of one who " builded better than he knew," and which must for all time be inseparably connected with the scientific history of this State.

The portrait facing page 49 is from a photo, taken by Hammer in 1893, the year in which he was elected President of the Austra-lasian Association for the Advance-ment of Science—a well-merited tribute to a laborious and brilliant scientific career.

P L A T E V .

R O B E R T D E S M O N D F I T Z G E R A L D ,

Deputy Surveyor-General of New South Wales and an eminent Australian Orehidologist.

[Born (Ireland) 1830; died (Sydney) 1892.]

R O B E R T DESMOND FITZGERALD.

[Born (Ireland), 1830; died (Sydney), 1892.]

This botanist, who specialized in Australian orchidology, arrived in New South Wales at the age of 26, and occupied for some years the position of Deputy Surveyor-General in that State.

He was a skilled artist, and it is largely to this fact that we are indebted for the production of his magnificent work on " Aus-tralian Orchids." In this work over 200 species are described and

beautifully illustrated from his own coloured drawings, a large propor-tion of which he himself also lithographed. His illustrations in almost every instance are from fresh plants, in search of which he visited every State in the Common-wealth. Having secured the coloured reproduction he seems to have invariably discarded the flower; he consequently did not leave a herbarium—a matter for much regret, as the types are no longer accessible.

Two orchids have been named after him, one of which has so far not been found beyond the limits of our own State.

VIII. GLOSSARY.

Acianthus—From two Greek words meaning a point and a ilower. Album—White. Antenni/era—Bearing antenna; (referring to the column). Arislata—Awned, like the beard of corn. Atrata—Blackened. Autumnalis—Flowering in the autumn. Auslralis, Austmle—Southern. Barbata—Bearded (labellum). Bicalliata—Having two rows of calli. Cairmiana—After Rev. Adam Cairns, of Melbourne. Caladenia—Beautiful glands (on the labellum). Caleana—Named af ter the botanist Caley. Calochilus—Beautiful labellum. Canaliculatum—-Channelled. Crimen—Flesh-coloured, Caudatus—Tailed." Caerula—Blue. Concinna—Neat, fitting beautifully together. ,, Constrictum—Constricted (labellum). Corysanthes—Helmet-shaped flowers. Cryptostylis—Hidden column. Cucullata—Hooded. Curia—Short, referring to the short tails of the sepals. Cymbidivm—Boat-shaped (labellum). Cyrlostylis—Curved column. , Dejormis—Deformed ; referring to the irregular perianth of tha t particular Caladenia. Dilatata—Spread out. Diurin—Two tails ; referring to the lateral sepals of this family. Dipodium—Two feet. The reference is to the two-stalked pollen mass. Elutum—Tall. Epipactoides—Resembling an Epipactis (a family of orchids having stout, leafy stems). Epiphytic—Growing on other plants, bu t not 'parasit ically. Eriochilus—A woolly labellum. Exsertus—Thrust out. Fitamentosa—Threadlike. Fimhriata—Fringed (referring to the edge of the labellum). FUztjeraldi—After Fitzgerald, an Australian orchidologist. Flexuosn—Zigzag. Furcata—Forked. Fusco-lutea—Brown-yellow. Fuscurn—Brown. Gladiolata—Bayonet-shaped (sepals). Glossodia—Tongue-like. Gracile—Graceful. Grandiflora—Large flowers. txioides—Ixia-Iike. Latifolia—Wide-leafed. Leptoceras—Delicate horns (referring to the two thin lateral petals). Leplochila—Thin labellum. Longijolia—Long-leafed. Luteo-cilium—Yellow hair. Lyperanthus—From two Greek words meaning tioublesome and flower, becausc these

flowers are difficult to preserve, as they turn black when pressed.

Macmillani—After Thomas Macmiilan, its discoverer. Jlaculata—Spotted. Major—Greater. Menziesii—After Botanist Menzies. Microtis—Little car (referring to two small ear-like portions of the column in this

family). Minor—Lesser. Muticn—Docked (i.e., without any points or tails). Nana—Stunted, dwarfed. Nigricans—-Blackish. Nutans—Nodding. Obtusa—Blunt (referring to the tip of the labellum). Occidentale—Western. Odoratum—Fragrant. Orbicularis—Having reference to the round, disc-like labellum. Ortlmceras—Straight horns (referring to the lateral sepals). Ornta—Egg-shaped (labellum). Palachila—Spade-shaped. Palustris—Swampy. Patens —Spreading (sepals). Parviflora—Small flowers. Pauciflora—Few flowers. Patersoni—-After the botanist Paterson. Perianth—The leaf-like parts of the flower taken as a whole, and consisting of sepals

and petals. Peduncxdnta—Stalked. * Porrifolia—Leek-leaved. Proecox—Early. Prasophyllum—A leek-like leaf. Pruinnsa—Frosty. Pterostylis—Winged column. Punctatum—Dotted. Reflexa—Bent back (referring to the tails of the lateral sepals) Iteniformis—Kidney-shaped. Reticulata—Network (of veins on labellum). Rnbertsoni—After the botanist James Robertson. liotundifiornm—Referring to globular shape of the flowers. llufa—Reddish (flowers). Spiranthes—Flowers arranged spirally. Strictum—Rigid. Sulphitrca—Sulphur-coloured. Tentaculatn—Having feelers. Tejiperi—After a well-known Adelaide scientist. Thelymitra—A woman's head dress (referring to the top of the column in this family). Toxochila—Bow-lipped. Tuber—The so-called bulb of the orchid. Tutelata—Guardian (calli). Urnalis—Urn-shaped. Venosa—Veined. Vittata—Banded with a ribbon.

I X . B I B L I O G R A P H Y O F O R C H I D S I N D I G E N O U S T O

S O U T H A U S T R A L I A .

NOTE.—All, or nearly all, the works of reference in this bibliography are to be found on the shelves of our Public Reference Library.

The name of the species is in every case followed by brackets, within which is in-cluded the name of the botanist (often abbreviated) who named and described the plant. ,

L I S T OF ABBREVIATIONS U S E D .

./?. Br.—Robert Brown, the celebrated botanist who accompanied Flinders and did all the pioneer botanical work along the coastline of this State .

Prod.—His Latin work " Prodromus Florae Novo? Hol landia :" (1810), describing the various species of plants collected by him on this continent .

Fl. Aust.—The vi. volume of Bentham and Mueller's classic work " Flora Australien-sis " (in English) on Australian botany.

F. v. M.—Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, late Government Botanist of Victoria. Frug.—" Fragmenta Phytographise Aus t ra l i a , " a work by von Mueller descriptive of

certain Australian plants (in Latin). Fitz.—It. D. Fitzgerald, an eminent Australian orchidologist. Ami. Orch.—" Australian Orchids," Fitzgerald's monumental work, containing large

coloured plates of 204 species of orchids. Fl. Tas.—" Flora Tasmanica " text in Lat in, with many fine coloured plates ; by Sir

Joseph Hooker. Bot. lleg.—Botanical Register. B>t. Mag.—Curtis' Botanical Magazine. Pl.—Plate or illustration. Tate—Professor Tate 's Flora of South Australia. Tr. It. Soc. S.A.—Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Aus-

tralia. Proc. It. Soc. Vic.—Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. Gen. et sp.—Genera and species of Orchids, by Lindlcy (in Latin). Lindl.—Professor John Lindley, botanist . Gnrd. Ghron.—Gardener's Chronicle. Endl:—Stephen Endlicher, professor of botany. Benth.—George Bentham, botanist . Lnbdl. Xov. Itoll. pl. sp.—Labillardiere's " Novae Ilollandia.' p lan ta rum specimen,"

with many plates. Tex t in Latin.

DIPODIUM.

punctatum (R. Br. ; Prod., 331) ; Fl. Tas., ii.. pl. 127 ; Bot . Reg., pl. 1980 ; Aust, Orch., !., pl. fil ; Fl. Aust, , 301 ; Tate, 162.

CYMBIDIUM. V. canaliculatum (R. Br. ; Prod., 331) ; Bot. Mag., pl. 5851 ; Tate, 102 ; Fl. Aus., 302.

TIIEI/VTMITRA. T. ixioides (Swartz) ; Aust. Orcli., ii., pl. 3 0 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pl. 103; Tate , 162 ; Fl .

Aust,, 317. T. epijtactoides (F. v. M., Frag., v., ft4); Fl. Aust., 3 1 8 ; Tr. R . Soc. S.A. (Rogers),

xxxiii., 202, pl. 19. T. longijolia (Fors ter) ; Prod., 314 ; Fl. Aust, , 319 ; Aust. Orch., i., pl. 4 9 ; Fl. T a s -

H., pl. 103; Tate , 162.

T. paucifhra (B. Br. ; Prod., 314); Fl. Aust., 320 ; Aust. Orch., i., pi. 49 ; Tate (printer's error, parviflora), 102.

T. aristata (Lindl. Gen. et Sp., 521); Fl. Aust., 319 ; Tate, 162. T grandiflora (Fit?.., Card. Chron., xvii., 495); Aust. Orch., ii., pi. 29; Tate, 162. T fuseo-lutea (11. Br . ; Prod., 315); Fl. Aust., 521 ; Tate, 162. T luleo-cUium (Fitz. Gard. Chron., xvii., 495); Aust. Orch., ii., pi. 10 ; Tate, 162. T urnalis (Fitz. Gard. Chron., xvii., 495); Aust. Orch., ii., pi. 31 ; Tate, 162. T. flexwsa (Endl.); Fl. Aust., 322; Aust. Orch., ii., pi. 31 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 101;

( = T. Smithiana); Tate, 163. T. antennijera (Hooker, Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 101); Fl. Aust., 322 ; Aust. Orch., ii., pi. 41 ;

Tate, 163. T. ilacmillani (F. v. M., Frag., v., 93). T. earned = T. rubra, = T. Mackibbimi (B. Br., Prod., 314); Fl. Aust., 321 ; Aust.

Orch., i„ pi. 49; Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 102 ; Tate, 163. T. renosa (K. Br., Prod.. 314); Fl. Aust., 323; Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 102 ; Tr. R. Soc. S.A.

(Rogers), xxx., 125, pi. 22.

CAI.OCHILUS.

C. Itobertsoni (Benth., Fl. Aust., 315); Tate, 163.

DIURIS.

I), punctata (Smith, Exotic Botany. 1804, i„ 13, pi. 8) ; Prod., 316; Aust. Orch., u pi. 36; Fl. Aust., 326; Tr. B. Soc. S.A., vi„ 114 ; Tate, 163.

D. palustris (Lindl., Gen. et Sp., 507); Fl. Aust., 327 ; Tate, 163. D. maculala (Smith, Exotic Botany, i., 57, pi. 30); Fl. Aust., 327 ; Aust. Orch., i.,

pi. 13; Fl. Tas.. ii., pi. 104'; Prod., 315; Bot. Mag., pi. 3150; Tate, 163. D. pedunculata (P.. Br., Prod., 310); Fl. Aust., 328; Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 105; Aust.

Orch.., i„ pi. 60; Tate, 163. D. palachila (Rogers, Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xxxi., 209). 1). vulphurea (R. Br., Prod., 316); Fl. Aust., 330; Fl. Tas.. ii., pi. 104; Tate, 163. I), hngijolia (R. Br., Prod., 316); Fl. Aust., 331 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 105 ( = D. corym-

bosa); Tate, 163.

ORTIIOCERAS.

O. strictum (R. Br., Prod., 317) ; Fl. Aust., 332; Aust. Orch., i„ pi. 18 ; Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xiv., 255 (deals with fossil traces of a species of Orthoceras).

CRYPTOSTYLIS.

C. long i folia (R. Br., l'rod., 317); Fl. Aust,, 333 ; Aust, Orch., ii.,'pl. 17 ; Bauer and Lindley's Illustrations of Orchidaceous plants, pi. 17 and 18 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 108 ; Labill. Nov. Holl., pi. sp. ii., pi. 212 ( = Malaxis subulata).

PRASOPHYLLUM.

• P. Aitxtrale (R. Br. ,Prod., 318); Fl. Aust,, 337 ; Fl. Tas., ii. (P. lutescens), pi. 110; Tate, ex Tr. R. Soc. S.A., vi., 114 ; Rogers ex Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xxxiii., 208, pi. 8 ; Tate, 164; not Aust. Orch., ii., pi. 6.

P. datum, (R. Br. Prod., 318); Fl. Aust,, 337; Aust. Orch., ii., pi. 6 ; Rogers, ex . Tr. R, Soc. S.A., -xxxiii., 209, pi. 8 ; Tate, 104.

P. odoratum (Rogers, Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xxxiii., 209, pi. 9B). P. rotundiflorum (Rogers, Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xxxiii., 210, pi. 10B). P. album (Rogers, Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xxxiii., 211, pi. 10A). P.'prttinosum (Rogers, idem, 211, pi. 11B). P. gracile (Rogers, idem, 213, pi. 12A).

' P. constrictum (Rogers, idem, 213, pi. 13B). P. occidental (Rogers, idem, 214, pi. 12B) ; also Tr. It. Soc. S.A., xxxi., 63. P. patens (R. Br., Prod., 318—Rogers, ex Tr. R.'Soc. S.A., xxxiii., 214, pi. 9A) ; Tate,

164.

P. fuscum (It. Br., Prod., 318) ; Fl. Aust., 339 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pl. 112; Rogers, ex Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xxxiii., 215, pl. 13A.

P. FitzgercUdi (Rogers-Maiden, Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xxxiii., 21G, pl. 11a) ; also an unpub-lished plate by R. D. Fitzgerald.

P. nigricans (R. Br., I 'rod., 319) ; Fl. Aust., 343 ; Aust. Orch., i., pl. 3 8 ; Rogers, ex Tr. II. Soc. S.A., xxxiii., 204, pl. 7A.

P. Tepperi (Rogers, Tr . R . Soc. S.A., 200, pl. 7B). NOTE.—P. Tepperi appeared as a mere name in F. v. Mueller's first Census

(additional plants, page 140) of Australian plants. On .Tune 1st, 1909, I read the above paper before the Royal Society of S.A., not knowing tha t Prof. Ewart , of Melbourne, had read a paper describing a different p lant by this name in May of the same year, in the Proceedings of the R. Soc. Vic. His slight priority, of course, establishes his claim to the name. I have thought it less confusing, however, to retain it BO far as this State is concerned for the plant described by myself, and for the following reasons :—In 1880, Mr. Ot to Tepper, its discoverer, writes thus in the Proceedings of the R. Soc. S.A., page 32—" Only one new species has as yet been discovered by me, viz., a small orchid, in respect of which Baron v. Mueller has done me the honor of naming it Prasophyllum Tepperi the flowers are very small " The species described by Prof. Ewar t is not small, but fairly robust . After submitting his find to the Baron, Mr. Tepper placed the plants in his herbar ium, where they remain to-day, and where I have carefully inspected them on

. more than one occasion. He assured me t ha t they are the plants which the Baron contemplated describing under the above names. I collected and described my plants from the same locality, a t the same t ime of the year, and they are identical with those shown me by Mr. Tepper.

SPIUANTUES.

•S. Australis (Richard) ; Fl. Aust., 314 ; Aust. Orch., i„ pl. 8 : Tate , 104.

MICROTIS.

M. porrifolia (R. Br., Prod.. 320) ; Fl. Aust., 347 ; Bot. Mag. ( = M. Banksii), pl. 3377 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pl. 118 ( = M. a rena r i a ) ; Aust . Orch., ii., pl. 9 : Tate , 104.

M. utrata (Lindl. Bot. Reg. Appendix, 1839, 54 ) ; Fl. Aust., 349 ; Ta te ( = M. minuti-flora), 104.

M. orbicularis (Rogers, Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xxxi., 03. pl. 20).

CORYSANTHES.

C. pruinosa (Cunningham in New South Wales Mag., 1833, n. 1 ) ; included by Benth. in Fl. Aust., 351, under C. fimbriata. Aust. Orch., i„ pl. 5 ; Ta te . 104.

PTEROSTYLIS.

p. concinna (R. Br., Prod., 320) : Fl. Aust. , 355 ; Aust. Orch., i„ pl. 51 ; Bot. Mag. pl. 3400; Hooker Journ . Botany, i.. 274, pl. 130; Tate, 104.

p. nana (R. Br., Prod., 327) ; Fl. Aust., 357 ; Gen. et Sp., 391, pl. 114 ; Fl. Tas. , ii., pl. 114; Tate , 104.

P. nutans (R. Br., Prod., 327) ; Fl. Aust., 350 ; Aust, Orch., i., pl. 52 ; Bot. Mag., pl. 3085: Fl. Tas., ii„ pl. 18 : Tate, 104.

P. pedunculata (R. Br., I 'rod., 327) ; Fl. Aust., 350 ; Aust. Orch., i„ pl. 42 ; Fl. Tas., «., pi. 114; Tate, 1«5.

P- curta (R. Br., Prod., 320) ; Fl. Aust., 355 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pl. 115 ( = cucul la ta ) ; Aust. Orch., i„ pl. 4 3 ; Bot. Mag., S08G ; Tate , 105.

' • G u t t a t a (R. Br., Prod., 327) ; Fl. Aust. , 357 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pl. 115 is P. cur ta , not cucullata : Tate , 105.

i u r c a ' a (Lindl., Gen. et Sp., 390) ; Fl. Aust., 358 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pl. 115 does not represent Lindley's species; Kogers, ex Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xxxi., 125, pl. 22.

P. pra:cox (Lindl., Gen. et Sp., 1840, £88); f l . Aust., 359 ; Labill. Nov. Holl., pi. sp., ii., 59, pi. 210 (== Dispens alata) ; Tate, 105.

P. reflexa (R. Br., Prod., 327); Fl. Aust,, 359; Aust, Orch., i., pi. 44 ; Tate, 105. P. obtusa (R. Br., Prod., 327); Fl. Aust., 360; Aust. Orch., i., pi. 54 ; Fl. Tas., ii,

pi. 115 ; Tate, 105 : Rogers, ex Tv. R. Soc. S.A., xxxiii.. 13. P. parviflora (R. Br., 1'rod., 327); Fl. Aust., 361 ; Aust, Orch., i„ pi. 64. P. barbata (Lindl., Gen. et Sp., 388); Fl. Aust., 362 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 116 ( = P. squa-

mata); Aust. Orch., i., pi. 64 ; Tate, 165. P. mntica (R. Br., Prod., 328); Fl. Aust., 362 : Aust. Orch., i., pi. 14 ; Fl. Tas.. ii.,

pi. 117; Tate, 165. P. rnja (II. Br., 1'rod., 327); Fl. Aust., 303 ; Aust. Orch., i„ pi. 15; Tate, 165; Fl.

Tas., ii., pi. 110. P. hngijolia (R, Br., Prod., 327); Fl. Aust., 304 ; Aust. Orch., i„ pi. 2 ; Fl. Tas.,

ii., pi. 117 ; Tate, 165. P. vittata (Lindl., Gen. et Sp., 389); Fl. Au?t„ 364; Frag., xi., 126; Tate, 165.

CALK AN A.

C. major (R, Br., 1'rod., 329); Fl. Aust., 365; Aust. Orch., i„ pi. 48 ; Rogers, car Tr. R. Sno. S.A., xxxi., 127 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 107.

C. minor (R. Br., Prod., 3291; Fl. Aust,, 360 ; Aust. Orch., i., pi. 48.

" ACIANTHUS.

A. eavdatus (R, Br., Trod., 321); Fl. Aust., 369 ; Aust. Orch., i„ pi. 66 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 119; Tate, 165.

A. exsertus (R. Br., Prod., 321); Fl. Aust., 370; Aust. Orch., i., pi. 6 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 119; Tate, 165.

CYRTOSTYLIS.

C. reniformis (R, Br., Prod., 322); Fl. Aust,, 376; Aust. Orch.. i., pi. 35 : Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 119; Hooker .Tourn. Bot., i., pi. 135; Tate, 166.

GLOSSODIA.

O. major (R. Br., Prod., 326); Fl. Aust,, 392 ; Aust. Orch., i„ pi. 29; Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 120; Tate, 166.

LYPKRANTHUS.

L. nigricans (R. Br., Prod.. 325); Fl. Aust., 374 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 106 ; Aust. Orch,. i., pi. 37 ; Tate, 166.

ERIOCHILUS.

E. autumnalis (R. Br„ Prod., 323); Fl. Aust., 372 ; Aust. Orch., ii., pi. 11 ; Labill. Nov. Holl., pi. sp., ii., 61, pi. 211 ; Fl. Tas., ii.. p!. 120 ; Tate, 166.

LErTOC'F.RAS.

L. fimbriata (Lindl., Gen. et sp., 416); Fl. Aust. ( = Cal. fimbriata), 379 ; Aust. Orch., ii., pi. 35 ; Tate, 166 ( = Eriochilus fimbriatus); Ewart ex Plants indigenous to Victoria, ii. (C. fimbriata).

CALADENIA.

C. Cairnsiana (F. v. JL, Frag., vii., 31); Fi. Aust. 380; Tate ex Tr. R. Soc. S.A., ix„ 60 ( = C. cardiochila), pi. 11 ; Tate, 166.

<'. reticulata (Fitz. Gard. Chron—1882—xvii., 462); Aust. Orch., ii., pi. 12; Tate, 166.

C. toxochila (Tate, Tr. R. Soe. S.A., xii., 129); Tate, 166.

0. bkalliata (Roger?, Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xxxiii., 17). O. tentacnlata (Tate, Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xii.. 130); Tate, 100. C Menziesii (R. Br. Prod., 325); Fl. Aust., 379 ; Aust. Orch., ii., pl. 35 ; Fl. Tas.,

ii., pl. 121 ; Tate, 107. C. filamentom (R. Br. Prod., 324); Fl. Aust., 281 ; Aust. Orch., i., pl. 60; F!. Tas..

ii., pl. 121 : Tate, 167. C. dilatata (R. Br. Prod., 324); Aust. Orch., i., pl. 19 ; Fl. Tas., ii., pl. 122 ; Tate, 107. C. gladiolata (Rogers, Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xxxi., 210, pl. 20). C. Pntersoni (R. Br. Prod.. 324): Fl. Aust., 381 ; Aust. Orcli., i., pl. 19 ; Tate, 167.:

Fl. Tas., ii., pi. 12:'. C. leptochila (Fitz. Oard. Chron— 1S82—xvii., 402); Aust. Orch., ii., pi. 12 ; Tate, 107. O. ovala (Rogers, Tr. R. Soc. S.A., xxxiii., 16, pl. 1). 0. tifalia (R. Br. Prod., 324); Fl Aust., 284; Aust. Orch., ii., pl. 48; Tate. 167. C. carnea (R. Br. Prod., 324); Fl Aust., 380; Aust. Orch., i„ pl. 58; Fl. Tas., ii.,

pl. 124; Smith's Exotic Bot., pl. 104; Tate, i07. C. cceruha (R. Br. Prod. 324) ; Fl. Aust., 388 ; Aust. Orch., i., pl. 45 ; Tate, 107. C. deiormis (11. Br. Prod., 324) ; Fl. Aust., 388 ; Aust. Orch., i„ pl. 45 ; Fl. Tas., ii.,

pl. 123 (.-= C. barbata); Tate, 167. C. luteinUt (Rogers, Tr. R, Soc. S.A., xxx., 225, pl. 11 ; ar.d ditto x,xxi., 211).

I N D E X .

I'Ad K.

Abbreviations used in bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. 55 Acianthus caudatus, described .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28

" " bibliography .. .. .. .. .. •. .. 58 " exsertus, described .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28

illustrated 19 " " fertilization .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 " " bibliography .. ... .. .. .. .. .. 58

Anther .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . .. .. .. 8 Bibliography of orchids indigenous to South Australia .. .. .. .. 55 Brown, Robert, biographical notice .. .. . . .. .. .. 41

" " portrait .. .. .. .. .. . . .. . . 40 Caladenia bicalliata, bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59

" Cairnsiana, illustrated .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 7 " " bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 58 " carnea, bibliography ., .. .. .. .. .. .. 5!) " coerulea, bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59 " deformis, illustrated .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 " " bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59 " dilatata, illustrated .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 42 " " bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59 " filamentosa, • bibliography.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59 " gladiolata, bibliography .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 59 " latifolia, bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59 " leptochila, bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59 " Menziesii, bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59 " ovata, bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59 " I'atersoni, illustrated .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34 " " bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59 " reticulata, bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58 " tentaculata, bibliography.. .. .. . .. .. .. 59 " toxochila, bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58 " tutelata, bibliography .. .. .. .. .. 59

Caleana major, occurrence .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 " " flowers inverted .. .. ,. .. .. . . . . 38 " " illustrated 25

" fertilization 38 " bibliography 58

" minor, occurrence .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 " bibliography j 58

Calochilus Robertsoni, illustrated .. .. 24 " " bibliography .. .. .. .. .. .. 56

Column, definition .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ., .. 8 illustrated .. ,. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12. 17

" wings ' 12, 17 Corysanthes pruinosa, described .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30

" " illustrated 21 " " pressing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 39 " " bibliography .. .. .. ., .. .. 57

Cryptostylis longifolia, illustrated 22

Cryptostylis, longifolia, transitional form " " bibliography..

Cymbidium canaliculatum, occurrence " " bibliography

Cyrtostylis reniformis, described " " illustrated " " bibliography..

Dipodium punctatum, illustrated . . " " a transitional form " " bibliography..

Diuris longifolia, bibliography " maculata, bibliography " palachila, illustrated . . . " " ' bibliography " palustris, bibliography " pedunculata, bibliography " • punctata, bibliography " sulphurea, bibliography

Epiphyte, defined " monstrous

Eriochilus autumnalis, " Parson's bands " " " illustrated " " bibliography

Fitzgerald, R. D., portrait " biographical notice

Galeola Ledgerii, size . . Clossary Glossodia major, illustrated . .

" " bibliography Greenhoods, see Pterostylis.

" illustrated " fertilization " leaves

" Hyacinth, The Wild," see Dipodium. " " illustrated . . " " transitional

" bibliography I-abellum, literal and vernacular definition

" illustrated . . " appendage . . " sensitiveness " a modified petal . .

Leptoceras fimbriata, described " illustrated " biblioeraphv .

Lyperanthus nigricans, illustrated . " bibliography

Microtis atrata, bibliography minutiflora, see M. a t ra ta . .

" orbicularis, illustrated " bibliography

porrifolia, bibliography' Orchids, definition

the naming of an spider eye growing from tubers not growing from tubers . times of blooming . .

" size

P a u k .

37 56 35 55 29 20 58 23 37 55 56 56 29 56 56 56 56 56 10 32 11 11 58 51 52 32 53 31 58

8, 13, 14, 15. 16, 17, 18 14, 15. 18. 21

15

23 37 55 9

12, 17 12. 17. 21 14, 17, 21

9 30 33 58 30 58 57 57 27 57 57

8 12

28, 34 7

10. 11 !! io 22, 31, 35, 37

11 10, 32

Orchids, flowers upside down " types " terrestrial

epiphytic " transitional " market value " hunters " fanciers " protection . . • • " growing from seed " collecting and preserving

" bibliography of indigenous forms . . Orthoceras strictum, described

" illustrated " " fossil traces " " bibliography . .

" Parson's bands," see Eriochilus. Petals, described

" conversion of one into labellum Pollen Prasophyllum, illustrated

"' flowers inverted album, bibliography Australe, illustrated . . . •

bibliography constrictum, bibliography . . elatum, bibliography Fitzgeraldi, bibliography . .

" fuscum, bibliography graci'.e, bibliography..

" nigricans, illustrated " bibliography

occidentale, bibliography . . " odoratum, bibliography " patens, bibliography.. " pruinosum, bibliography

rotundiflorum, bibliography " Tepperi, bibliography

Pterostylis, the family " formation of hood

fertilization leaves main groups

" barbata, described " " bibliography . .

concinna, described " bibliography

cucullata, described " " illustrated

" bibliography . . 41 curta, described

" illustrated " " bibliography " furcata, described

" bibliography " longifolia, described

" illustrated " bibliography . .

nana, described . . " " illustrated . .

Pterostylis, nana, bibliography " mutica, described

" illustrated " " bibliography " nutans, described " " illustrated " " bibliography " obtusa, described

" bibliography parviflora, described

" " bibliography " pedunculata, described . . " " bibliography " prsecox, described " " bibliography " reflexa, described " " illustrated " " bibliography

rufa, described " " bibliography

vittata, described " " illustrated " " bibliography

Sargent Oswald, fertilization of Pterostylis Sepals, described Spiranthes Australia, time of blooming

" " illustrated " " bibliography . .

Stamen . . Stisma Style Tate, Ralph, portrait

" " biographical notice Thelymitra, absence of labellum

antennifera, i l lustrated.. " " bibliography

aristata, bibliography . . " carnea, bibliography " epipactoides, illustrated

" bibliography " flexuosa, bibliography . .

fusco-lutea, bibliography grandillora, bibliography ixioides, bibliography . . longifolia, bibliography.. luteo-cilium, bibliography Macmillani, illustrated . .

\t " bibliography Mackibbinii, see T. carnea.

" paucillora, illustrated . . " bibliography

" rubra, see T. carnea . . " urnalis, bibliography . . " venosa, illustrated

" bibliography . . iongue, see Labellum.

" sensitive „ " illustrated Tuber

ought to be protected ! .

P a u k .

57 16 16 58 16 15 57 20 58 20 58 19 57 19 58

19, 20 8

58 18 58 12 13 58 25

9 11

26 57

8 8 8

48 49

9 32 56 56 56 36 55 56 56 56 55 55 56 35 50

9 56 50 50 37 50

14, 17. 21 . . 12, 17

10 6, 11, 39

PUBLIC LIBRARY Of YiCTwRIA